Winter Driving Made Easy

It is important to maintain a clear visual of the road while driving. Now that we are in the winter months, our windshield is susceptible to frost, ice, snow, rain and sleet, which can make it difficult and sometimes dangerous to drive. However, with a little maintenance and preparation, you can make your winter drive a little better.  At our dealerships, we offer a wide array of maintenance services that will prepare you for Old Man Winter. 

Wiper Blades:  There is nothing worse than getting to your car in the morning when you are late for work only to find your windshield frozen over.  Often times, people will run their blades over the frozen windshield in order to clear it. This severely reduces the life span of your wiper blade. Wiper blades frequently get neglected on most cars and yet, they are constantly used and exposed to harsh conditions.  We recommend that you change your blades at least once a year, preferably every 6 months. 

Stone Chip Repair: A stone will most likely chip your windshield at least once over the course of your ownership.  If untreated, it will continue to crack reducing your visibility and can be potentially dangerous. As the cold weather takes effect, you will find that the crack with get increasingly larger. At our dealerships, we offer a stone chip repair service – this quick and affordable service will save you money… and your windshield. 

Wax your lights:  You might be saying to yourself, “Wax my lights?”  Yes, visibility in the winter months can be minimal, so it is important that you are getting maximum light from head lamps.  Adding a little car wax to the lights and then wiping off and buffing with a towel will assist in preventing ice and snow from sticking.  The same practice can be applied to your taillights.

We hope you found these tips for winter driving helpful.  If you would like to schedule a service appointment at one of our dealerships, please visit us at www.imagehonda.com or www.queenstonchev.com

By: Amy Cochren

2013 Chevrolet Trax

New to Canada this year is the all-new 2013 Chevrolet Trax. Unavailable in the United States, the Trax is Chevy’s first entry into the small SUV class.  This vehicle has the flexibility of a small car, while offering you the feel and practicality of an SUV.  Marc Comeau, Vice President of Sales, Service & Marketing for Chevrolet Canada, described the Trax as a vehicle “building on Chevrolet’s long tradition of offering dependable and capable SUVs and crossovers.  Trax delivers modern styling, versatility and efficiency, while offering car-like handling and all-wheel drive.”

Operating with the same engine as the Chevrolet Cruze, the Trax drives on a 1.4 litre, turbocharged, 4-cylinder engine with an output of 138 horsepower and 148 lb-ft of torque.  The three trim levels available are: the LS, which come with standard front-wheel drive and 6 speed manual transmission; and the LT & LTZ models that come in a 6 speed automatic transmission with an all-wheel drive option.

The innovative Chevrolet MyLink is standard on the 2LT and LTZ models, and is available as an option in the LS model. MyLink is an in-vehicle connectivity system that provides audio streaming for your devices, as well as wireless control of your smartphone.

Catering to passenger comfort, the Trax provides 60/40 fold down seats.  The front passenger seat can also be folded flat providing you with up to 8 seating arrangements.  There are also numerous areas for storage and 6 cup holders made accessible for your passengers on those long car trips.

The Chevrolet Trax is set to arrive at Queenston before the New Year.  If you are interested in this vehicle or any other vehicles in our award winning Chevrolet line-up, please visit us at www.queenstonchev.com

By: Amy Cochren

Credit:

http://www.gm.ca/gm/english/vehicles/chevrolet/trax/feature-2013-Chevrolet-Trax

http://media.gm.ca/media/ca/en/gm/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/ca/en/2012/Sep/0928_Trax.html

Distracted Driving: How you can prevent it!

We all know that distracted driving is dangerous, but are we aware how dangerous it truly is?  Ontarians have now had a couple years to get used to the “new” law, banning hand held devices while driving, yet we continually see people texting, using their mp3 players, GPS units and the like.  The law, which was put in place on October 26, 2009, makes it illegal for drivers to talk, dial, email or text using hand held devices.  Additionally, it prohibits drivers from viewing display screens that are not related to operation of the vehicle.

Do you know your crash odds?
People texting while driving are 23 times more likely.
People talking on a cell while driving are 4 to 5 times more likely.
People who read while driving are 3 times more likely.
Individuals applying makeup while operating a vehicle are 3 times more likely.
Individuals reaching for a moving object while driving makes you 9 times more likely.
Dialing on a mobile device makes you 3 times more likely.

What is alarming given these statistics is how many people don’t take this offence seriously.  According to a study completed at the University of Utah, distraction caused by cell phones or mobile devices delay someone’s reaction time the same as an individual driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.08.  Furthermore, driver distraction is a factor in about 4 million motor vehicle accidents in North America each year.

In recent years we have seen a great improvement with in vehicle technology. Most new vehicles are now equipped with devices such as; Bluetooth, OnStar and HondaLink.  These are all programs that can help drivers embrace the new distracted driving laws. There are also new smartphone applications that have been made available to drivers.  One such app is called “Text Ya Later,” (Android only) which allows you to create a message letting others know that you are driving and will text them later.  This message can be set so that it is automatically delivered when activated.  Another application, more suited to parents, is “Mobile Tattletale”. (For a list of supported devices, click here)  When installed on a mobile device and the driver is moving, Tattletale will generate a warning message to the parent’s phone, giving them the ability to temporarily disable their child’s mobile device until the vehicle has come to a stop.  Keep in mind that while these new technologies are helpful, for your safety and those around you, it is best to keep your eyes on the road and save the distractions for later.

If you are interested in purchasing a new vehicle or would like more information on OnStar or HondaLink, please visit us at www.imagehonda.com and www.queenstonchev.com

By: Amy Cochren

Credit:

CAA http://distracteddriving.caa.ca/education/index.php
MTO http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/safety/distracted-driving/index
Ontario Provincial Police http://www.opp.ca/ecms/index.php?id=545
go.drive www.godrivemag.com
http://mobiletattletale.com/supported-devices

2013 Honda Accord Preview

This video gives a brief introduction to the 2013 Honda Accord and is the first video in our Accord Series. If you are interested in the 2013 Honda Accord or any other vehicle in the award winning Honda line-up, please contact us at 1-888-375-5914 or visit us at http://www.imagehonda.com

Greening Canada’s Highway’s at Queenston on Centennial

Today is an exciting day at Queenston on Centennial as we launch our own publicly accessible electric vehicle (EV) charger.  This green initiative is part of Sun Country Highway’s charging network that has been set up in the Golden Horseshoe from Niagara Falls to Oakville. 

Sun Country Highway, a wholly Canadian owned company, is at the forefront for sustainable transportation and have been leaders in launching this infrastructure to help energize Electric Vehicle adoption across our country.  Over the course of today, SCH will be making a 5 stop tour, led by their founder Kent Rathwell (who will be driving an all-electric Tesla Super Car) across the Niagara region to charge the vehicle.  The final stop on today’s tour will end at our Queenston on Centennial dealership at 3:45 this afternoon.

What few realize is that the Sun Country Highway’s initiative is not only one of the first of its kind, but the charging network they have pioneered is the “World’s Longest/Greenest Electrified Highway” with over 100 charging stations across Canada.  This highway will allow Electric Vehicle owners to travel FREE of charge, emission free, across Canada!  Being a part of the Chevrolet family, we at Queenston on Centennial are proud of our own Electric Vehicle, the Chevrolet Volt, and are thrilled to be a part of this project!

If you would like more information on our publicly accessible electric vehicle charger or information on the Chevrolet Volt, please visit us at Queenston on Centennial or contact us at 905-560-2020.

By: Amy Cochren

2013 Honda Accord – Honda Link

You may or may not have heard that Honda has unveiled a new cloud based “in-vehicle connectivity” system called HondaLink.  Set to make its debut this fall, with the release of the all new re-designed 2013 Honda Accord, this system will give drivers access to all their favourite media in a more accessible way.

The HondaLink smart phone application will allow users to put away their mobile devices by pre-program content on their phone, which is accessible through voice recognition, steering wheel controls and in-dash audio system controls.   This function will provide owners with a more personalized drive and give them a more unique driving experience.

Perhaps, the most exciting feature of HondaLink is the “Aha” service, which will allow users to listen to their Facebook and Twitter in an audio newsfeeds.  Aha, also has access to location-based personalized restaurant listings from yelp, as well as internet music services such as Slacker; a service that is free and instantly available!  Whether it is having a book read to you while you drive, or listening to the rest of the podcast you didn’t have time to finish before you left work, HondaLink will exceed your greatest expectations.

For more information on HondaLink, please see the video below.  If you are interested in purchasing or a vehicle or would like more information on the 2013 Honda Accord please visit us at http://www.imagehonda.com/ou/hamilton-honda/ or call us at 905-561-4100.

By: Amy Cochren

 http://www.honda.ca/newsdetails/nca/en/news/release/New-CloudBased-HondaLink-Connected-Car-System-Helps-Drivers-Put-Away-Their-Phones-While-Maintaining-Intuitive-Access-to-Their-Favourite-Media

2011 Chevrolet Cruze at Queenston on Centennial

2011 Cadillac CTS at Queenston on the Mountain

The all-new 2013 Chevrolet Malibu has arrived!

The Chevrolet FREE Hockey Helmet Program is Back!

The Chevrolet Hockey Helmet Program is back in conjunction with Chevrolet’s Safe & Fun Hockey.  This program was created in 1999, for today’s youth to adopt proactive attitudes toward safety as well as foster a healthy and positive attitude toward “competition, team work, fair game and grace under pressure” in hockey.

            Through an ongoing partnership with Hockey Canada, Chevrolet will give away 1 FREE Bauer youth hockey helmet to children who were born in 2007 and who are registered in a Canadian Minor League Hockey Association.  It is important to note, that parents must register their child to receive this offer.  Coaches, managers or other team officials may not do so.
What is required?

  • A printout of the registration form; click here to register!
  • Your child’s birth certificate/passport or other provincial/federal documentation that states his/her age;
  • Proof of registration with a Canadian Minor Hockey Association in this current hockey season.

If you meet the above requirements, all you have to do is drop by one of our two dealerships; Queenston on the Mountain or Queenston on Centennial.  Present us with the appropriate documents for verification purposes, and we will present you with a voucher to redeem your child’s helmet at your local Forzani store (Sport Chek, Sport Mart, Hockey Experts, Intersport or Sports Experts).  In your package, you will also receive information and hockey-related items from Chevrolet Safe and Fun Hockey, Hockey Canada, Forzani and Bauer.

If you have any further questions or concerns regarding this outstanding program from Chevrolet, please contact us by visiting our webpage at www.queenstonchev.com

By: Amy Cochren

Credit:
Chevrolet Safe & Fun Hockey  https://www.facebook.com/#!/ChevroletSafeandFunHockey